Anna supporters help students asked to pay bribe at Dadar stn

Two youngsters struggling to get their bike, which was transported from Wardha to Dadar in a train, out of the railway station without paying a bribe on Monday managed to do so with help from volunteers of India Against Corruption (IAC), who happened to be protesting outside the station.

HT Image

Two youngsters struggling to get their bike, which was transported from Wardha to Dadar in a train, out of the railway station without paying a bribe on Monday managed to do so with help from volunteers of India Against Corruption (IAC), who happened to be protesting outside the station.

Engineering student Shrishail Thote and his friend Gauravkumar Kate allege that a Railway Police Force (RPF) official asked them for bribe against signing their gate pass, required to take the vehicle out of the premises. “The train reached Dadar at 12 noon, but formalities took up to 5.30pm. We were taking the bike out when an RPF official stopped and asked for the gate pass. When we produced it, he said his signature would be needed for us to take it out and for that he would charge us money,” said Thote.

“We asked for a receipt, he said ‘Isme receipt nahi hota’. When we threatened to go to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, he asked us what will it do?” said Kate.

The youngsters and IAC volunteers took the case to RPF inspector MK Srivastava, who issued a warning to his subordinate. “I assure you no such act will take place again,” he said.

The youngsters allege that civic officials at the station asked them for Rs1,800 as octroi charge. “Octroi can’t be levied on a used bike. The official said the amount could be reduced to Rs300,” Thote said.